Secret Talks, Part Two

"The guy hiding behind the scenes transplanted these eyes for you, and then manipulated you to open them, making you move forward step by step according to his plan."

"I can't help but say it, "Katsuki said calmly.

"... Are you saying that the person behind this killed my parents just to open my eyes?" Nagato's tone sounded strange, a mixture of sadness, anger, and confusion, making him lose his usual indifference.

"I'm sorry, but that's just how it is."

"I want to ask you how you know all this? You were just a little kid back then, how could you know so many... secrets?" Nagato stared at Katsuki, his Rinnegan filled with doubt.

"Don't doubt me, I have no reason to deceive you. The source of the information is difficult to explain to you, but... it's absolutely true. Although White Fang aren't very convincing, I still want to emphasize that everything I've said is true."

Katsuki met Nagato's gaze without fear; this was the Rinnegan. If it were the Sharingan, he wouldn't have looked at her like that.

A heavy atmosphere permeated every corner of the room, making Konan's face pale, yet she gritted her teeth and remained silent.

"I see!"

With a sigh, Nagato closed her eyes first, her straight back hunched over, and she slumped limply in the chair like a cat whose spine had been removed.

"What? You think that's the end of it? Aren't you curious why that person transplanted these eyes into you? Do you think that person is a charity ambassador, draped in a Red Cross and going around doing disaster relief?" Katsuki mocked coldly.

"Charity Ambassador? Red Cross?... What are all these things?"

The unfamiliar vocabulary confused Yahiko, but Katsuki ignored him and just looked at Nagato.

"Why? Why me? Why did you do this?"

The suppressed roar concealed a deep pain.

"Of course it's because of your bloodline." Katsuki looked at her like she was an idiot. "I've said it almost eight times already. Our Uzumaki Clan is also a descendant of the Sage of Six Paths, making us an excellent vessel for the Rinnegan. Otherwise, do you think just anyone can wield the Rinnegan? Don't be ridiculous!"

"······"

Nagato was speechless at this merciless sarcasm, stammering and unsure what to say. Her grief and indignation were also somewhat alleviated.

"Wait a minute... Katsuki, that person behind... Assuming there really is such a mastermind, do you mean that Nagato's Rinnegan actually belongs to this mastermind? Does that mean the mastermind is also a descendant of the Sage of Six Paths?" Yahiko sorted out his thoughts and came to a conclusion.

Although this conclusion is pretty useless.

"Well, that's right."

Katsuki nodded.

"Do you know which families in this world still inherit the bloodline of the Sage of Sage of Six Paths?" Yahiko asked Katsuki.

"I know! The Senju Clan, the Uchiha Clan, and our Uzumaki Clan, um... strictly speaking, the Hyuga Clan is also related to the Sage of Sage of Six Paths. That's about it. There are so many named ones, but there are countless scattered collateral bloodlines. Those mixed bloodlines are basically useless." Katsuki held up four fingers.

"So, does that mean the mastermind originated from these four families?" Yahiko asked, rubbing his chin as if deep in thought.

"Yes, an old codger from the Uchiha Clan."

"Uh-huh, Uchiha... Eh--!? What did you say? Do you know who's behind this?" Yahiko exclaimed in surprise, jumping up and glaring at Katsuki.

"I know!"

"Why the hell didn't you say so earlier!" Yahiko grabbed Katsuki collar and roared.

"You didn't ask either, did you? I was thinking of explaining it to you slowly, otherwise the initial shock might be too much for you to accept..." Katsuki said innocently.

Yahiko: "·······"

"So now can you tell us who's the mastermind behind this?" Konan asked with a smile, stopping Yahiko's violent outburst.

"Etc······"

Katsuki, Hand Seals mudra, close your eyes, and open your Mind's Eye.

"Mind's Eye of the Kagura".

The entire town was under his Mind's Eye. Every pedestrian on the main street, every cat and dog scurrying and fighting in the alleys, was under his control. Although he knew that this level of method could not detect White Zetsu's strange stealth and concealment techniques, he still did his best to investigate.

"Better safe than sorry. The mastermind behind this is no ordinary opponent. One wrong move and we could all be wiped out here. I'm still young, and I don't want to die again so soon."

Yahiko and the others didn't understand what "dog belt" meant, but Konan keenly grasped the word "again" and immediately looked at Katsuki with an extremely strange expression, as if trying to figure something out.

"Ahem, I'll be blunt, so be prepared!"

"What? You want to spout some more nonsense?" Yahiko smirked, his eyes dangerous.

"... Madara Uchiha, this is the mastermind behind it all." Katsuki said quickly. Although he could easily defeat Yahiko with one hand, he didn't want to get involved in such pointless trouble.

A long silence followed as six eyes stared intently at Katsuki.

"Um... can we say something? You three, you're putting a lot of pressure on me by looking at me like that. I'm starting to feel the urge to go to the bathroom," Katsuki muttered to herself.

Konan turned her face away in annoyance, while Yahiko glanced at Nagato, who had his head down, before cautiously asking, "Madara Uchiha... Katsuki, are you sure you're not joking? Is the Madara Uchiha you're talking about the same Madara Uchiha?"

"Look at what you're saying, is there a second Madara Uchiha? There's only one Madara Uchiha, okay?"

Yahiko: "·······"

"Hey, what, you guys don't believe me? Is this really that hard to believe?" Katsuki asked curiously.

"But wasn't Madara Uchiha already dead? And it was your First Hokage who did it himself. Let me tell you, don't think we're easy to fool just because we're newcomers. We've put in a lot of effort to cram in this basic knowledge." Yahiko looked at Katsuki with suspicion, then added after a moment's thought, "This was all taught to us by Jiraiya- sensei."

Konan nodded in agreement, while Nagato remained silent, only raising his head to stare intently at Katsuki, his piercing gaze sending chills down one's spine.

"What's the point of lying to you!" Katsuki pinched her eyelids hard to control her fluctuating emotions and continued, "I can't produce detailed evidence, but I can confirm that the mastermind behind this is Madara Uchiha. He didn't die in his battle with the First Hokage. You could say that a monster like him would have a hard time dying. It's just that the First was too straightforward and was seriously injured in that battle, so he died not long after. Otherwise... tsk tsk."